McGuffey's Fifth Eclectic Reader Part 4

EXAMPLES.

Has he arrived'? Yes'.

Will he return'? No'.

Does the law condemn him'? It does not'.

Exception.--If these questions are repeated emphatically, they take the falling inflection, according to Rule VII.

EXAMPLES.

Has he arrived'?

Will he return'?

Does the law condemn him'?

REMARK.--When a word or sentence is repeated as a kind of interrogatory exclamation, the rising inflection is used according to the principles of this rule.

EXAMPLES.

You ask, who would venture' in such a cause! Who would venture'? Rather say, who would not' venture all things for such an object!

He is called the friend' of virtue. The friend'! ay! the enthusiastic lover' the devoted protector' rather.

So, also, when one receives unexpected information he exclaims, Ah'!

indeed'!

REMARK.--In the above examples the words "venture," "friend," "ah," etc., may be considered as interrogatory exclamations, because if the sense were carried out it would be in the form of question; as, "Do you ask who would venture'?" "Do you say that he is the friend' of virtue?" "Is it possible'?" and thus they would receive the rising inflection according to this rule.

RISING AND FALLING INFLECTIONS.

RULE XI.--The different members of a sentence expressing comparison, or contrast, or negation and affirmation, or where the parts are united by or used disjunctively, require different inflections; generally the rising inflection in the first member, and the falling inflection in the second member. This order is, however, sometimes inverted.

1. Comparison and contrast. This is also called ant.i.thesis.

EXAMPLES.

In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of G.o.d; by honor', and dishonor'; by evil' report, and good' report; as deceivers', and yet true'; as unknown', and yet well' known; as dying', and behold we live'; as chastened', and not killed'; as sorrowful', yet always rejoicing'; as poor', yet making many rich'; as having nothing', yet possessing all'

things.

Europe was one great battlefield, where the weak struggled for freedom', and the strong for dominion'. The king was without power', and the n.o.bles without principle', They were tyrants at home', and robbers abroad'.

2. Negation and affirmation.

EXAMPLES.

He desired not to injure' his friend, but to protect' him.

We desire not your money', but yourselves'.

I did not say a better' soldier, but, an elder'.

If the affirmative clause comes first, the order of the inflections is inverted.

EXAMPLES.

He desired to protect' his friend, not to injure' him.

We desire yourselves', not your money'.

I said an elder' soldier, not a better'.

The affirmative clause is sometimes understood.

We desire not your money'.

I did not say a better' soldier.

The region beyond the grave is not a solitary' land.

In most negative sentences standing alone, the corresponding affirmative is understood; hence the following.

REMARK.--Negative sentences, whether alone or connected with an affirmative clause, generally end with the rising inflection.

If such sentences are repeated emphatically, they take the falling inflection according to Rule VI.

EXAMPLES.

We do not' desire your money.

I did not' say a. better soldier.

3. Or used disjunctively.

Did he behave properly', or improperly'?

Are they living/, or dead'?

Is he rich', or poor'?

Does G.o.d, having made his creatures, take no further' care of them, or does he preserve and guide them'?

REMARK.--Where or is used conjunctively, this rule does not apply; as, Will the law of kindness' or of justice' justify such conduct'?

CIRc.u.mFLEX.

The circ.u.mflex is a union of the rising and falling inflections. Properly speaking, there are two of these, the one called the rising circ.u.mflex, in which the voice slides down and then up; and the other, the falling circ.u.mflex, in which the voice slides upward and then downward on the same vowel. They may both be denoted by the same mark, thus, (^). The circ.u.mflex is used chiefly to indicate the emphasis of irony, of contrast, or of hypothesis.

EXAMPLES.

1. Queen. Hamlet, you have your father much offended.

Hamlet. Madam, you have my father much offended.